Chronic elbow instability

Chronic elbow instability without fractures in adults can be broken down in to three types: (1) valgus instability, (2) posterolateral rotator instabil ity, and (3) isolated radial head instability. By far the most common is va lgus instability, which usually occurs in throwing athletes as a result of repetitive microtrauma to the anterior band of the medial collateral ligame nt. Surgical treatment is aimed at reconstruction of the anterior band of t he medial collateral ligament. Posterolateral rotatory instability is much less common and is diagnosed by the lateral pivot-shift test of the elbow. It is usually the result of an undiagnosed acute injury to the lateral ulna r collateral ligament. Surgical treatment is aimed at its reconstruction. I solated radial head subluxation in adults is extremely rare. The essential lesion is a disruption of the annular ligament. Surgical treatment is eithe r radial head resection or reconstruction of the annular ligament.